Boat lift



p 29, 1964 5. J. WOODWORTH 7 3,150,339

BOAT LIFT Filed Sept. 25, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheetl' 9 VINVENTOR.

SPENCER J. wooDwQRTH Sept. 29, 1964 WQODWORTH 3,150,389

BOAT LIFT Filed Sept. 25, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. SPENCERJ.WOODWORTH Sept. 29, 1964 s. J.wooDwoR1'-H 3,150,389

BOAT LIFT Filed Sept. 25, 1963 :3 Sheets-Sheet 3 III!! II!!! SPENCERJ.WOODWORTH Y B wm Om OO 7 0. mm wOm m A a a H ill mp United StatesPatent sasassa BGAT LEFT Spencer 3;. Wocdworth, Miami, Fla. (323- E.Market St., Apt. K6, York, Pa.) Filed Sept. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 311,508 9-Claims. {CL 9-4i'i) This invention relates to lifts or cranes and ismore particularly directed to a boat lift capable of hoisting a boat ina level posiiton.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a boat liftwith an equalizing bar which permits adjusting the position of acarriage so that a boat which is in imbalance may be lifted in a levelposition.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a boat lift with abar along which a carriage having rollers is permitted to move until aWeight is lifted by the boat lift then the carriage becomesautomatically secured against moving along the bar.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a boat lift witha boom which can be swung by hand or motor through an arc of over 180 byuse of reduction gearing.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a liftwith an equflizing bar for lifting an imbalanced boat on a levelposition by manipulating the boom to move the carriage in the directionof the position of balance.

With these and other objects in view, the invention wfll be bestunderstood from a consideration of the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, with the understanding, however, that the inventionis not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of thedrawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes ormodifications mark no material departure from the salient features ofthe invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

IGURE 1 is a side elevation view of a boat lift constructed inaccordance with my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary top plan view.

FZGURE 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIGURE3.

FTGURE 5 is a cross sectional view of the levelizing bar taken along theline 5-5' of FIGURE 1.

FEGURES 6 and 7 are cross sectional views taken along the lines 6-6 and'77 respectively of FTGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 88 of FEGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the carriage.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals are used to designatesimilar parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1% refers ot aboat lift constructed 7 in accordance with my invention and consistingof an upright post 11 imbedded in concrete and supporting a horizontallyswinging boom 12. The boom 12 is supported at its inner end by arotating mast 13 with a brace 14- extending diagonally between the mast13 and boom 12. At the inner end of the boom 12 and the lower endportion of the mast 13 there is a hinge plate 15 whose outer end ispintled as at 16 to a hinge 17 which is secured to the post 11 to permitthe mast 13 to swing in an arc of approximtaely 180.

Means are provided for swinging the mast 12 comprising a gear plate 13secured to a support 19 which is mounted on the inner end of the boom12. The gear plate 18 is provided with a row of gear teeth 20 forming asemi-circle in mesh engagement with a bevel gear 21 having a shaft 22which is rotatably mounted on a sup port 23. A chain pulley 24 issecured to the free end of shaft 22 and is provided with an endlesschain 25 for rotating the bevel gear 21 which in turn will rotate thegear plate 18 and the boom 12 about the pintles 16.

At the free end of the boom 12 there is a support pin 26 which isengaged by a hook 2'7 that supports an electric reversible motor 2 8.The electric motor 28 is provided with a drum portion 29 on which iswound a cable 39 on whose lower end a hook 31 is secured. Actuation ofthe lines 32 which extend to the post 11 will serve to operate thereversible motor 28 in raising or lowering the equalizing bar 35 towhich the hook 31 is attached.

The equalizing bar 35 is constructed of a pair of channel beams 36placed in paralle and spaced relation to each other and fastenedtogether by plates 37 and 38 at the top of the channel members 36 and ateach end thereof and plates 39 and 4% at the bottom of the channelmembers 3o. Consequently the mid-portion of the equalizing bar 35 isprovided with slots 41 and 42 to permit a carriage support handle 43 anda manually adjusting hmdle 44 of a carriage assembly 45 to extendtherethrough for sliding the carriage assembly 45 to different positionsalong the equalizing bar 35.

The carriage 43 f the or the carriage assembly 45 extends upwardly ofthe mid-portion of a carriage support plate 46 at whose ends an I beam47 is fastened at the position of one of its flanges 48 as best shown byFIGURE 9, while the outwardly extending flanges are slotted on each sideas at 55 to receive rollers 59. The rollers 50 are rotatably mounted ona shaft 51 and secured at their mid-portion to a vertically disposed pin42. which extends between the flange 49 and the flange 53 therebelow ofeach 1 beam 47. About ecah pin 42 is a coil spring 54 which yieldingiyurges the rollers 50 in an upward direction above the level of thesupport plate 46. Positioned on the upper surface of the support plate46 is a heavy duty rubber member 79 which frictionally engages theequalizer bar 35 as is explained in detail hereinafter. The equalizerbar 35 is supported by the hook 31 which engages the carriage 45 at abore so formed in the carriage support handle 43.

At the ends of the equalizing bar 35 are horizontally extending pins 57and 58. On the pin 57 there is dependingly secured a spreader bar 59 atwhose ends boat ring engaging hooks are secured for releasably securingto stem boat rings 61 of a boat 62.

At the forward pin 58 which is rotatably mounted between the channelbeams 36 has secured thereon a drum 63 on which a cable 64 is wound. Thecable 64 extends downwardly terminating in a hook 65 to releasablyengage a boat ring as mounted on the bow of the boat 62. The drum 63 isprovided with a handle 67 for manually rotating the drum 63 to adjustthe length of the cable 64 to the boat 62. The handle 67 is slidablymounted and is locked in position by a stop portion 68 which engages theedge of the channel beam as.

To prevent the danger of carriage 45 from rolling too fast in theequalizing bar 35 and cause possible iniury or damage to a boat beinglifted, the rolling movement of the carriage as is cushioned by acylinder 71 secured as at '7 2 to the end of the equalizer bar 35. Airescape and inlet ports 73 are positioned at each end of the cylinderwith a piston 74 mounted therebetween as best shown by FIGURE 5. A rod'75 secured at one end to the piston is secured at its other end to thecarriage 45 at one of the I beams 47. Now as the carriage 45 is moved ineither direction on the equalizer bar 35, the piston 74 will compressthe air in the cylinder 71 in the direction it is moving and slow downthe movement of the carriage 45 as determined by the rate of flow ofescaping air through the port 73.

in the normal operation of my boat lift 10, the equalizer bar 35 islowered to permit the boat rings 61 and 66 :3 to be engaged by the hooks69, 65 respectively. By manipulation of the lines 32, the motor 29 whichis connected to a source of electricity (not shown), the equalizer bar35 is raised until the weight of the boat 62 is beginning to be borne bythe lift 10, the coil springs 54 of the carriage 45 will becomecompressed and the rubber friction members 70 will engage the channelbeam 36 to lock the carriage 45 in place on the equalizer bar 35.' Ifthe boat 62 is not in balance on the equalizer bar 35, the boat 62 andequalizer bar 35 will assume a tilted position. Knowing in whichdirection the boat is out of balance, the operator now lowers the boat62 and the equalizer bar 35 until the Weight of the boat 62 is borne bythe surface on which it is resting. This permits the coil springs 54 toslide the rollers 50 upwardly and the carriage 35 downwardly removingthe rubber friction members 70 from contact with the channel members 36so that rollers 50 are now free to rotate. The operator then operatesthe chain to rotate the pulley 24 and gear 21 causing the gear plate 18and boom 12 to swing about the pintles 16 in the direction of imbalancethat is, the direction in which the heavier portion of the boatprevailed. The carriage 45 will now slide along the equalizing bar onthe rollers 50 until the carriage reaches the position of balance. Theboat 62 is now lifted by the boat lift 10 with the equalizer bar 35 andthe boat 62 in a perfectly horizontal position to the desired heightabove the surface on which the boat was resting. The weight of the boat62 causes the rubber friction members 70 to engage the channel members36 of the equalizer bar 35 to prevent any sliding movement of thecarriage 45 while the boat 62 is in being borne by the lift 10. Theoperator again pulls on the chain 25 to swing the boom 12 in the desireddirection he wishes the boat 62 to be deposited. The boat 62 is thenlowered and the equalizer bar 35 will be found to be in an imbalanceposition after the weight of the boat 62 has been removed therefrom.Before the hooks 60, 65 are disengaged from the boat rings 61, 66, thechain 25 is manipulated to swing the boom 12 in the direction of theimbalance. The rollers will permit the carriage 45 to slide to thecenter position or position of balance of the equalizer bar 35. Thehooks 60, 65 are then disengaged from the boat rings 61, .66 and theboat lift 10 swung to its normal non-operating position. When there isno weight being borne by the boat lift 10, the carriage 45 Will slidealong the equalizer bar 35 when the latter is inclined as little as 5from the horizontal. Also, when the weight of a boat is borne by thelift 10 and the equalizer bar 35 is in imbalance, the carriage 45 willremain secure against any sliding movement on the equalizer bar 35 withthe latter inclined as much as 30.

Having disclosed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A boat lift comprising a post, a boom pivotally mounted on said post,gear means mounted on said post and said boom for swinging said boom, anequalizer bar, means supporting said equalizer bar on said boom, saidsupport means comprising a carriage, a plurality of rollers slidablymounting said carriage on said equalizer bar, friction means mounted onsaid carriage and resilient means yieldingly urging said friction meansout of contact relation with said equalizer bar whereby upon the liftingof a boatby said lift said friction means engages said equalizer bar toprevent said rollers from sliding said carriage'along said equalizerbar.

2. A boat lift comprising a post, a boom pivotally mounted onsaid post,gear means mounted on said post and said boom for swinging said boom, anequalizer bar, means supporting said equalizer bar on said boom, saidsupport means comprising a carriage, a plurality of rollers slidablymounting'said carriage on said equalizer bar, dampening meansoperatively connected to said carriage to restrict movement of saidcarriage on said equalizer bar, friction means mounted on said carriageand resilient means yieldingly urging said friction means out of contactrelation with said equalizer bar whereby upon the lifting of a boat bysaid lift said friction means engages said equalizer bar to prevent saidrollers from sliding said carriage along said equalizer bar.

3. A boat lift comprising a post, boom means secured at one end to saidpost, equalizer bar means secured at the other end of said boom means,said equalizer bar means comprising a pair of channel members having;leg portions, means securing said channel members in opposed and spacedrelationship with each other and forming a slot between said legportions, a carriage slidably mounted between said channel members, saidcarriage comprising a support plate member positioned substantiallyhorizontally between said channel members in proximity of said legportions, a connector member extending upwardly of said support platememberthrough said slot, roller means mounted on said support platemember normally engaging said leg portions, friction means mounted onsaid support plate in proximity of said leg portions and resilient meansyielding urging said friction means out of contact engagement with saidleg portions whereby said rollers permit the sliding movement of saidcarriage on said equalizing bar.

4. A boat lift comprising apost, boom means secured at one end to saidpost, equalizer bar means secured at the other end of said boom means,said equalizer bar means comprising a pair of channel members having legportions, means securing said channel members in opposed and spacedrelationship with each other and form-v ing a slot between said legportions, a carriage slidably mounted between said channel members, saidcarriage comprising a support plate member positioned substantiallyhorizontally between said channel members in pro imity of said legportions, a connector member extending upwardly of said support platemember through said slot, roller means mounted on said support platemember normally engaging said leg portions, friction means mounted onsaid support plate in proximity of said leg portions and resilient meansyielding urging said friction means out of contact engagement with saidleg portions whereby said rollers permit the sliding movement of saidcarriage on said equalizing bar and dampening means op-' erativelyconnecting said carriage and said equalizing bar to permit the slowmovement of said carriage along said equalizing bar.

5. A boat lift comprising a post, a pair of pintle support membersmounted on said post, a boom, a rotating mast secured to one end of saidboom, pintle support members mounted on said mast, pintle means securingsaid pintle support members for swinging said boom about said post, gearsupport means secured to said one end of said boom, gear plate meansmounted on said support means, a gear in mesh engagement with said gearplate, a pulley operatively connected to said gear, chain means forrotating said pulley and swinging said boom, an equalizer bar having apair of channel members having leg portions, means securing saidchannelmember is opposed and spaced relationship with each other and forming aslot between said leg portions, a carriage slidably mounted between saidchannel members, said carriage comprising a support plate memberpositioned substantially horizontally between said channel members inproximity of said leg portions, a connector member extending upwardly ofsaid support plate member through said slot, roller means mounted onsaid support plate member normally engaging said leg portions, frictionmeans mounted on said support plate in proximity of said leg portionsand resilient means yielding urging said friction means out of contactengagement with said leg portions whereby said rollers permit thesliding movement of said carriage on said equalizing bar.

6. A boat lift comprising a post, a pair of pintle support membersmounted on said post, a boom, a rotating mast secured to one end of saidboom, pintle support members mounted on said mast, pintle means securingsaid pintle support members for swinging said boom about said post, gearsupport means secured to said one end of said boom, gear plate meansmounted on said support means, a gear in mesh engagement with said gearplate, a pulley operatively connected to said gear, a pair of channelmembers having leg portions, means securing said channel members inopposed and spaced relationship with each other and forming a slotbetween said leg portions, a carriage slidably mounted between saidchannel members, said carriage comprising a support plate memberpositioned substantially horizontally between said channel members inproximity of said leg portions, a connector member extending upwardly ofsaid support plate member through said slot, roller means mounted onsaid support plate member normally engagin said leg portions, frictionmeans mounted on said support plate in proximity of said leg portionsand resilient means yielding urging said friction means out of contactengagement with said leg portions whereby said rollers permit thesliding movement of said carriage on said equalizing bar, and dampeningmeans operatively connecting said carriage and said equalizing bar topermit the slow movement of said carriage along said equalizing bar.

7. An equalizing bar comprising a pair of channel members having legportions, means securing said channel members in opposed and spacedrelationship with each other and forming a slot between said legportions, a carriage slidably mounted between said channel members, saidcarriage comprising a support plate member positioned substantiallyhorizontally between said channel members in proximity of said legportions, a connector member extending upwardly of said support platemember through said slot, roller means mounted on said support platemember normally engaging said leg portions, friction means mounted onsaid support plate in proximity of said leg portions and resilient meansyielding urging said friction means out of contact engagement with saidleg portions whereby said rollers permit the sliding movement of saidcarriage on said equalizing bar.

8. An equalizing bar comprising a pair of channel members having legportions, means securing said channel members in opposed and spacedrelationship with each other and forming a slot between said legportions, a carriage slidably mounted between said channel members, saidcarriage comprising a support plate member positioned substantiallyhorizontally between said channel members in proximity of said legportions, a connector member extending upwardly of said support platemember through said slot, roller means mounted on said support platemember normally engaging said leg portions, friction means mounted onsaid support plate in proximity of said leg portions and resilient meansyielding urging said friction means out of contact engagement with saidleg portions whereby said rollers permit the sliding movement of saidcarriage on said equalizing bar, and dampening means operativelyconnecting said carriage and said equalizing bar to permit the slowmovement of said carriage along said equalizing bar.

9. A boat lift comprising a post, a pair of pintle support membersmounted on said post, a boom, a rotating mast secured to one end of saidboom, pintle support members mounted on said mast, pintle means securingsaid pintle support members for swinging said boom about said post, gearsupport means secured to said one end of said boom, gear plate meansmounted on said support means, a gear in mesh engagement with saidgearplate, a pulley operatively connected to said gear and means forrotating said pulley whereby said gear rotates said gear plate means andsaid boom is swung about said pintle means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,304,353 Moss May 20, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS 805,351 Germany May 17, 1951

1. A BOAT LIFT COMPRISING A POST, A BOOM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID POST,GEAR MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID POST AND SAID BOOM FOR SWINGING SAID BOOM, ANEQUALIZER BAR, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID EQUALIZER BAR ON SAID BOOM, SAIDSUPPORT MEANS COMPRISING A CARRIAGE, A PLURALITY OF ROLLERS SLIDABLYMOUNTING SAID CARRIAGE ON SAID EQUALIZER BAR, FRICTION MEANS MOUNTED ONSAID CARRIAGE AND RESILIENT MEANS YIELDINGLY URGING SAID FRICTION MEANSOUT OF CONTACT RELATION WITH SAID EQUALIZER BAR WHEREBY UPON THE LIFTINGOF A BOAT BY SAID LIFT SAID FRICTION MEANS ENGAGES SAID EQUALIZER BAR TOPREVENT SAID ROLLERS FROM SLIDING SAID CARRIAGE ALONG SAID EQUALIZERBAR.